Page 78 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

But as soon as my thoughts grow hopeful, my mind reminds me of the reason I’m here to begin with.

It’s a swift reminder that this happiness I’m feeling now will soon come to an end one way or another.

After all, a deal is a deal. And if I want to stay hidden, I needed to go through with it.

What happens when it’s over? Do we just go our separate ways? Do I just ignore these feelings growing inside me?

I know he must feel it, too. It’s in every glance and heated gaze, every shared and thoughtful moment.

But I’m still his bait. No matter what way I try to think about it.

And without this deal, without Hook finding me a permanent solution to stay hidden, I’ll be hunted until I’m found. That much I know.

“I can see your mind is thinking hard about something. Let go, Tink.” Hook twirls me before pulling me back to him, my back to his front. The warmth from his body seeps into mine, making me shiver.

“Let go,” he whispers against my ear. “Let go and just be here with me. Just you and me.” I feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back as he dips his head and places a soft kiss on my shoulder.

Every thought and worry drifts away as he spins me once more, dancing with me in the clearing until everything around us becomes a blur. Until it’s just the two of us in this moment.

I let go and just feel. Him. Us.

I forget about my past fears and future doubts and plant myself firmly in this moment. In the here and now.

I carve each heated look, each warm touch into my memory, knowing that whatever happens from here on out, I will at least have this moment etched forever in my mind.

* * *

Once we arrived back at Hook’s, he was immediately called away. I’m already in my bed, showered and in something light, watching as the stars shift above me.

But even with them watching over me, I can’t seem to turn my mind off. It keeps drifting back to the last few hours and my time spent with Hook.

The dance. The cove. The way his body felt against mine.

I raise my hand to my lips, remembering the taste of him. How he kissed me like he wanted to devour me. How he held me like he never wanted to let me go.

My eyes flutter shut, and Hooks' face appears before me, remembering the moment as if it was happening once again.

I lean into him as our lips meet, a soft brush at first before he teases my mouth apart and slides his tongue in, taking control of the kiss.

A throaty groan claws up his throat sliding down my back and drawing me into his embrace.

Just like back in the cove, one vivid memory and taste of him is all it takes to crave everything and more.

My body heats up once more and a deep pleasurable ache pools low in my stomach.

I let my hand drift down my body imagining Hooks' touch as he glides his hand over every curve.

With my eyes closed and mind solely on Hook as he slowly works my body into a frenzy, I imagine his husky voice, his taunts and teasing, and lean into the pleasurable heat building inside me.

My breath comes out in tiny pants as I writhe between the sheets needing a release to this build-up of sensations in my body. Squeezing my thighs together does nothing to ease the growing ache at my core.

A moan slips from my lips as I drag my hand further down my body. Lower. Lower. Until I’m sliding my hand down to my core and imagining it’s his touch. A touch that soon turns demanding and rough as I slightly widen my legs.

My memories, needs and wants become something new as an image of our bare skin melding as one flashes before me, followed by whispered pleas and wicked promises.

Fingers thread through my hair as another hand glides across my stomach. Hot, open-mouthed kisses tease as his wicked chuckle caresses the side of my neck.

My thighs open further as my fingers continue to slide across my core. My lower stomach contracts and a rush of heat hits me. I know I must be close when every muscle in my body tenses up with anticipation.

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